This is an edited, “bloggified” version of a paper from my days in the historic preservation program at Eastern Michigan University. I’ve been wanting to share it with you—it’s a great example of just how much story can be behind something as simple as a chair!
Thanks to a … [Continue Reading]

I’m superstitious about some things, but Friday the 13th isn’t one of them!
Why would a seemingly random combination of day and date be deemed unlucky? While there’s lots of speculation, it’s truly a mystery and one likely to remain unsolved. This day’s bad rap is … [Continue Reading]

The holiday season. There’s something about the end of the year…it’s wired into our souls…time to celebrate, time to reflect, and to look forward to the coming year. The days grow shorter and shorter until the solstice is finally achieved, and the sun begins its slow return. … [Continue Reading]

Today is Cyber Monday, and I’m hearing news reports that holiday sales are up this year! I’m willing to bet you spent some money over the past few days…right? I’m also willing to bet you made your purchases with plastic, or were purely digital, online. Did you use cash at … [Continue Reading]

Wait, what? A fortune in the Great Depression? They were certainly out there, and Fortune magazine was reporting on them. I unearthed this gem while perusing the New England Motel field at Brimfield last month, the July 1935 issue of Fortune. I’m always drawn to old … [Continue Reading]